Date: 31/10/2011

Android app for wireless streaming of digital media inside home

Qualcomm Atheros Inc. has announced Android software app called Skifta 1.0 for Android version 2.2 and above loaded smartphones and tablets. Skifta enables Android OS loaded device into a global media remote control to wirelessly control music, videos and photos at home over Wi-Fi and on the move with 3G from wherever their media resides at home, in the cloud and anywhere in between.

Skifta is the first DLNA Certified application, which can connect DLNA and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) devices worldwide, including TVs, IP-connected stereos like Sonos systems, PlayStation 3 game consoles, Windows 7 PCs and many such consumer electronics models. After selecting a photo, song or video stored on the Android smartphone or tablet, users can share this content to any compliant device using Skifta. No wires, downloading or sideloading is required. Consumers just tap on their favorite content, select a connected device and press Play.

A unique feature of the Skifta platform is its Channel library, which eliminates the need for consumers to manage multiple applications to access their favorite media from the cloud. Skifta Channels also give immediate access to Facebook Photos, Picasa, Flickr, Photobucket, Soma.fm, Napster, ShoutCast, Revision 3, TED Talks and more.

"Extensive discussions with our beta group boiled down to this: Skifta should eliminate the barriers between consumers and their media," said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president and general manager, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "The new version of Skifta addresses this issue with 3G support and media server software, and it goes a step further to deliver a powerful solution that puts the smartphone or tablet at the center of the connected home."

Skifta 1.0 for Android is free to download immediately from the Android Market and is currently available for Android smartphones and tablets (2.2 or higher). The Skifta desktop application for remote access to media stored at home (PC, Mac and Linux) is available at www.skifta.com.